Darrion Williams (30 points) leads Texas Tech past No. 6 Kansas
Feb 12, 2024; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Pop Isaacs (2) drives to the lane against Kansas Jayhawks guard Nicolas Timberlake (25) in the first half at United Supermarkets Arena. credits: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports Darrion Williams scored a career-best 30 points on 12-of-12 shooting and collected 11 rebounds to lead Texas Tech to a 79-50 pummeling of No. 6 Kansas on Monday night at Lubbock, Texas.
Williams, a sophomore, matched his career high of four 3-pointers as the Red Raiders defeated Kansas for just the eight time in 51 meetings. Warren Washington added 11 points and six rebounds as Texas Tech (18-6, 7-4 Big 12) won its second straight game following a three-game slide.
Johnny Furphy and Nicolas Timberlake scored 13 points apiece for Kansas (19-6, 7-5), which lost for the second time in three games. Star big man Hunter Dickinson had just five points on 2-of-12 shooting.
The Jayhawks played without standout Kevin McCullar Jr. (bruised knee) for the second straight game and for the third time in five contests. McCullar played three seasons at Texas Tech before transferring to Kansas prior to the 2022-23 season.
The Red Raiders shot 49.1 percent from the field, including 10 of 26 (38.5 percent) from 3-point range.
The Jayhawks made just 32.7 percent of their attempts and were 3 of 16 (18.8 percent) from behind the arc while dropping to 2-5 on the road.
Williams knocked down two 3-pointers in a span of 64 seconds of the second half as Texas Tech used a 12-3 run to take a 51-33 lead with 15:15 left in the game.
The lead reached 20 past the midway point of the second half before Kansas showed life with five consecutive points.
The margin was 16 with 5:49 remaining when Dickinson was called for an offensive foul. Jayhawks coach Bill Self protested and drew two technical fouls and an ejection. Pop Isaacs made all four technical shots to give the Red Raiders a 63-43 advantage.
A ferocious dunk by Robert Jennings made it 71-46 with 3:50 left, and Texas Tech pulled away to close it out.
Williams scored 12 points on 5-of-5 shooting to help Texas Tech hold a 37-28 halftime advantage. Timberlake had nine points in the half for Kansas.
The contest was tied at 12 before the Red Raiders made five treys during a 15-2 burst to take the lead for good. Kerwin Walton began and ended the stretch with 3-pointers as Texas Tech opened up a 27-14 advantage with 6:50 remaining before the break.
The Jayhawks scored 12 of the final 18 points in the half to creep within nine.
—Field Level Media